Grizzlies controlled ball, get win

NEWPORT – The Newport Grizzlies defense did their job against the Priest River Spartans Friday, stopping the Spartans on a key fourth down in the fourth quarter and getting a 20-12 Newport win Friday, Sept. 13.

“It was an ugly win for us,” Newport coach Mark Duxbury says. “Hats off to Priest River because they showed up ready to play.”

Newport’s defense played well, he says.

Newport had a nice drive capped by a Hank Kirkwood two-yard touchdown run, giving the Grizzlies the lead for the first time in the game in the fourth quarter.

“Basically, our defensive play kept us in the game,” Duxbury says.

“Priest River had to go for it on fourth down from their own 33-yard line with only 2:52 minutes left to play and our defense made a big stop, giving us the ball on the PR 30 yard line.”

Brody Driver broke a 24-yard run on the first offensive play to get Newport a first and goal at the 6 yard line. Two plays later Priest River let Newport score in hopes they could get the ball back with enough time for a chance to score and go for two for the tie, Duxbury says.

The Spartans went up in the first half, first on a 27-yard touchdown run in the first quarter by senior Sawyer Staudt, who is new to the team this year. He hasn’t played since eighth grade, says Priest River coach Alex Zepeda. He ended up rushing for the two Priest River touchdowns, gaining 120 yards. Priest River missed the point after kicks.

A blocked pass turned into a Priest River interception by Layton Goins. That led the second TD run by Staudt.

In the second quarter, Newport got their own touchdown run, a 30-yarder by Brody Driver. Driver ended up with 127 yards and the one touchdown for the game on 19 carries. Newport took the lead on Hank Kirkwood’s extra point kick.

The Spartans went into the half up 12-6.

The teams came out of halftime and played a scoreless third quarter.

In the fourth quarter Newport’s quarterback Kirkwood scored the first of his two second half